UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C. 20549
                                           
                                    FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
[x] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
    ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]
                     For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996

                                          OR

[  ]     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE  ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]

                  For the transition period from         to        .
                                                 -------    -------

                           Commission file number 0-28656

                             KARRINGTON HEALTH, INC.
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         OHIO                                    31-1461482
(State or other jurisdiction of                  (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)                   Identification No.)      

                              919 OLD HENDERSON ROAD
                              COLUMBUS, OH  43220
                              (614) 451-5151
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, 
               of registrant's principal executive offices)
                                           
          Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
                                         None
                                           
          Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                            Common Stock, no par value

    Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports 
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the 
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to 
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  YES [X]  NO [  ].

    Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to 
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be 
contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or 
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 
10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K: [X]
                                           
Shares of registrant's common shares, without par value, outstanding at March 
24,1997 was 6,700,000.  As of March 24, 1997, the aggregate market value of 
the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $35,519,000.

                      Documents Incorporated By Reference 
The information required by Part II, Items 5 through 8, of Form 10K is 
incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Annual Report to 
Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1996.  The information required 
by Part III of Form 10K is incorporated herein by reference to the 
registrant's definitive Proxy Statement relating to its 1997 Annual Meeting 
of Stockholders to be held on May 13, 1997.
                    ----------------------------------------
                    ----------------------------------------

                                       1


                                   PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS                          


    The Company develops, owns and operates private pay, assisted living 
residences. Assisted living residences provide housing and care for elderly 
or frail individuals who, although generally ambulatory, need assistance with 
one or more activities of daily living, such as bathing, grooming, dressing, 
eating or personal hygiene. 

    In 1990, Richard R. Slager, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and 
President, and Alan B. Satterwhite, the Company's Chief Operating Officer and 
Chief Financial Officer, formed DevelopMed Associates, Inc., an Ohio 
corporation ("DMA"), for the purpose of developing an assisted living 
residence business. In 1991, DMA entered into a strategic alliance with JMAC, 
Inc. ("JMAC"), an investment company owned by John H. McConnell and John P. 
McConnell, the founder and the Chairman, respectively, of Worthington 
Industries, Inc., pursuant to which alliance DMA and JMAC Properties, Inc., 
an Ohio corporation ("JMAC Properties"), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary 
of JMAC, formed the Company's predecessor, Karrington Operating Company, an 
Ohio general partnership ("Karrington Operating"). Prior to the consummation 
of the reorganization transactions (as described below), JMAC Properties 
owned a two-thirds equity interest in Karrington Operating, and DMA owned a 
one-third equity interest.

    Immediately prior to the Company's initial public offering in July 1996, 
JMAC transferred to the Company all of its shares of JMAC Properties in 
exchange for two-thirds of the pre-offering outstanding common shares of the 
Company and the shareholders of DMA transferred all of their shares of DMA to 
the Company in exchange for one-third of the pre-offering outstanding common 
shares of the Company.

    As of March 20, 1997, the Company has developed 26 residences in its 
target markets, 10 of which are open and 16 of which are under construction 
and scheduled to open in 1997 or by April of 1998. These 26 residences are 
located in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Colorado, North Carolina, Michigan 
and New Mexico. As part of its nationwide expansion strategy, the Company has 
sites for 14 residences under contract in these states, as well as in 
Illinois, New York and California. 

    The prototypical Karrington assisted living model, which has been 
developed and refined by the Company since its first residence was opened in 
1992, is a mansion-style residence which houses 60 to 80 residents. Each 
residence is typically located in a middle- to upper-income community which 
has a well-established population of individuals 75 years of age and older. 
The Karrington model combines quality housing, personal care and support 
services to provide a cost-effective alternative for individuals with 
physical frailties or cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, who 
do not require the regular skilled medical services provided by nursing 
facilities. The Karrington model allows the Company to control development 
costs, maintain consistent quality and improve operational effectiveness, 
while also creating "brand" awareness in the Company's markets. The Company 
has been successful in implementing the Karrington model, with residences 
open for one year or more having an average occupancy rate of 94.3% and 96.4% 
for the 12 months ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. 

    Karrington residences typically are staffed with licensed nurses on a 
24-hour basis and are designed to permit residents to "age in place" within 
the residence as they develop further physical or cognitive frailties. The 
Company believes that it is able to care for individuals with higher acuity 
levels (i.e., those needing greater assistance with activities of daily 
living) than is typical in the assisted living industry. 

    In addition to its own development activities, the Company has entered 
into a joint development relationship with Sisters of Charity Health Care 
Systems, Inc. ("SCHCS"), a not-for-profit corporation of which the sole 
member is Catholic Health Initiatives ("CHI").  CHI is a large, 
not-for-profit health organization formed by the recent consolidation of 
Catholic Health Corporation, SCHCS and Franciscan Health Systems. CHI 
operates 61 hospitals and 50 long-term care facilities in 20 states and has 
revenues exceeding $4 billion. The Company and CHI currently intend to 
develop and operate assisted living residences with CHI's health care system. 
See "Relationship with CHI." 

    By the end of 1999, the Company plans to have open approximately 77 
Company-owned residences.  As part of this plan, the Company will develop and 
operate Karrington Place residences, which are assisted living residences 
specifically designed for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other 
cognitive disorders, in a substantial portion of its markets.  In addition, 
the Company intends to develop and open 12 jointly-owned residences.

                                       2


THE ASSISTED LIVING INDUSTRY

    The assisted living industry has developed over the past decade to 
provide a cost-effective residential alternative for elderly individuals who 
do not require the intensive medical attention provided by a skilled nursing 
facility but who cannot, or choose not to, live independently due to physical 
frailty or cognitive disorders. It is estimated that the assisted living 
industry has annual revenues of $15 billion. Assisted living represents a 
combination of housing and 24-hour a day personal support services designed 
to aid elderly residents with activities of daily living, such as bathing, 
grooming, dressing, eating and personal hygiene. Assisted living residences 
provide assistance to residents with limited medical needs and may provide 
higher levels of personal assistance for special need residents, such as 
incontinent residents or residents with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of 
cognitive disorders. 

    The assisted living industry is fragmented and, to date, is characterized 
by many small operators. The scope of assisted living services varies 
substantially among operators, ranging from basic "board and care" services 
to full service assisted living residences such as those operated by the 
Company. Many smaller assisted living providers do not operate in residences 
designed specifically for assisted living, do not have professionally trained 
staffs and may provide only limited assistance with low-level care 
activities. The Company believes there are few assisted living operators in 
its markets who provide the same comprehensive range of assisted living 
services, such as Alzheimer's care and other special care programs, as the 
Company. 

    The Company believes that the following factors should continue to 
positively affect the assisted living industry: 

CONSUMER PREFERENCES.  The Company believes assisted living is increasingly 
the alternative preferred by prospective residents and their families in 
providing care for the frail elderly. Assisted living residents have greater 
independence, and assisted living services allow them to "age in place" in a 
residential setting. The Company believes these factors result in a higher 
quality of life than that experienced in the more institutional or clinical 
settings, such as skilled nursing facilities. 

POSITIVE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Census, the 
number of individuals in the United States 85 years and older is expected to 
increase by approximately 43% during the 1990s, from 3.0 million in 1990 to 
an estimated 4.3 million in 2000, as compared to total U.S. population growth 
of approximately 11% during the same period. It is further estimated that 
approximately 57% of the population of seniors over age 85 currently need 
assistance with activities of daily living and that more than one-half of 
seniors are likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or other cognitive 
disorders by age 85. 

ASSISTED LIVING DEMAND EXCEEDS SUPPLY.  The supply of long-term care beds per 
1,000 individuals 85 years of age and older declined from 686 beds per 
thousand to 604 beds per thousand between 1980 and 1991, according to the 
U.S. Bureau of Census, and the Company expects this trend to continue. The 
Company believes this decline is attributable to several factors. The 
majority of states in the United States have adopted certificate of need 
("CON") or similar statutes which generally require that, prior to the 
addition of new beds, the addition of new services or the making of certain 
capital expenditures, a state agency must determine that a need exists for 
the new beds or the proposed activities. The Company believes that this CON 
process tends to restrict the supply and availability of licensed nursing 
facility beds. High construction costs, limitations on government 
reimbursement for the full costs of construction and start-up expenses also 
act to constrain growth in the supply of such facilities and beds. At the 
same time, nursing facility operators are focusing on patients requiring 
higher levels of nursing care which results in fewer nursing beds being 
available to patients with lower acuity levels. 

COST ADVANTAGES.  The Company believes that the assisted living industry can 
provide comparable services for significantly less than the cost of such 
services to private pay residents in nursing facilities. The Company's market 
research indicates that the Company provides services at a cost of 25% to 35% 
less than the cost of comparable services provided by private intermediate 
care nursing facilities in the same market. 

CHANGES IN FAMILY COMPOSITION.  As a result of the increasing number of 
two-income families, the high divorce rate and the number of single-parent 
households, as well as the increasing geographic dispersion of families, many 
adult children are not available to care in their own homes for elderly 
parents. Two-income families are, however, often better able to provide 
financial support for elderly parents. 

COST CONTAINMENT PRESSURES.  Responding to rising health care costs, 
governmental and private payor sources have adopted cost containment measures 
that have encouraged reduced lengths of stay in hospitals. A result of this 
trend is an 

                                       3


increase in the number of individuals receiving nursing facility care as 
compared to hospitalization. That, in turn, causes nursing facility operators 
to focus on improving occupancy and increasing services to residents 
requiring high levels of nursing care. As the level of care for nursing 
facility residents rises and the supply of nursing facility space is filled 
by residents having more acute needs, the Company believes that there will be 
greater demand for assisted living residences to provide for residents 
requiring less nursing care than generally will be provided to residents in 
nursing facilities. 

STRATEGY

    The principal components of the Company's strategy are to: 

DEVELOP KARRINGTON MODEL RESIDENCES IN CURRENTLY-SERVED AND NEW COMMUNITIES. 
The Company's plans call for rapid development of the Karrington model in the 
communities it currently serves, as well as expansion into additional 
communities. The Company targets middle-to upper-income metropolitan markets 
which have well-established populations of persons 75 years of age and older. 
This development activity, in conjunction with the Company's acquisition 
strategy (discussed below) and its relationship with CHI, is intended to 
result in regional concentrations of assisted living residences. The 
Company's ultimate objective is to develop a nationwide network of assisted 
living residences which will be utilized by managed care companies. 

EXPAND JOINT DEVELOPMENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH MAJOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS ACROSS 
THE UNITED STATES.  The Company believes that it will continue to benefit 
from its relationship with CHI, pursuant to which the Company expects to 
develop and operate, and jointly own with CHI, assisted living residences in 
communities where CHI or its affiliates have a major presence as a health 
care provider. In addition, the Company believes its relationship with CHI 
provides a significant source of referrals and the opportunity to leverage 
the Company's expertise by developing similar relationships with other large, 
primarily not-for-profit, health care systems throughout the country. 

CONTINUE ITS FOCUS ON PROVIDING A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES TO HIGHER-ACUITY 
RESIDENTS.  The Company believes it provides a higher acuity level of care to 
its residents than is typically available at assisted living facilities, 
including care for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive 
disorders. The Company is able to provide these services by building its 
residences to higher standards and specifications, hiring licensed 
professionals, providing advanced training to its staff and complying with 
relevant regulations. In addition to providing care to residents with more 
complex medical conditions, the Company seeks to offer a broad range of 
services to meet the varied needs of all of its residents. In the future, 
these services are expected to include physical, occupational, speech and 
other rehabilitation therapy programs and other resident services. By 
providing a higher level of care and a broader spectrum of services, the 
Company is able to allow its residents to "age in place." The Company also is 
able to provide these services at rates which are substantially less than the 
cost of similar services provided by nursing care facilities. 

ACQUIRE RESIDENCES FOR CONVERSION TO THE KARRINGTON MODEL.  The Company 
intends to acquire assisted living residences or other properties that can be 
effectively converted to the Karrington model of operation. These 
acquisitions will depend on location, financial feasibility, suitability for 
conversion and consistency with other standards and requirements. The Company 
also intends to pursue long-term management contracts where opportunities 
exist to expand the Company's operations or to facilitate the acquisition of 
residences. 

RELATIONSHIP WITH CHI

    In addition to its own residence development activities, the Company and 
Catholic Health Initiatives contemplate  the joint development of a 
significant number of assisted living residences, three of which are open at 
the end of 1996.  The genesis of the CHI relationship was the joint 
development by the Company and SCHCS of Karrington of Oakwood, a 53-unit 
assisted living residence located in the Dayton, Ohio area which opened in 
November 1994.  Following the success of the Karrington of Oakwood residence, 
the Company and CHI determined to expand their relationship and in 1995 
entered into a letter of intent relating to the joint development of six 
additional projects over a three-year period. The first of the six projects 
consists of a 61-unit assisted living residence and an adjacent 28-unit 
Alzheimer's and cognitive disorder residence located in Albuquerque, New 
Mexico, which opened in October 1996. Three additional residences are 
currently under construction in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio and Colorado 
Springs, Colorado.

    Each project is owned jointly by the Company and CHI, with CHI typically 
owning approximately 80% of the equity of the project. Construction and 
permanent debt financing generally is arranged by CHI on behalf of the 
venture and is non-recourse to the Company.

                                       4


The Company provides all development and management services with respect to 
each residence under a standard agreement that generally provides for a 
development fee of $250,000 and a management fee of 5% of revenues. 

SERVICES AND OPERATIONS

SERVICES PROVIDED

    Seventy-five percent of Karrington residents are females and the average 
age of all residents is 83. Most Karrington residents have some disability 
associated with aging, such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, 
nutritional problems, incontinence, strokes or other disorders, and need 
assistance with two or more activities of daily living. Residents needs 
generally fall into one or more of the following categories: (i) requiring 
physical support or assistance with activities of daily living; (ii) 
requiring assistance, reminders and cuing due to some cognitive impairment; 
and (iii) requiring socialization and interaction with others. 

    Residents generally pay a daily suite rental rate under a resident 
agreement which is renewable annually and cancelable with 30 days notice. The 
daily suite rental rate ranges from $34 to $123 per day, depending on unit 
size, location, number of occupants and level of care required. Approximately 
70% of Karrington's residents live in private suites. While the Company's 
average daily suite rental rate is approximately $77, the wide range of rates 
offered by the Company allows the Company to accommodate persons of varying 
financial resources. Medication administration and various levels of extended 
care services, which depend on the degree of frailty, add to the basic rate. 
Additional charges may be incurred for other services such as hair care and 
special diets. Currently, all residents are private pay. 

    The Company's basic care program is provided to all residents at no 
additional cost and includes: assistance with daily living, such as eating, 
bathing, grooming, dressing and personal hygiene; three meals per day served 
in a common dining room; 24-hour security; emergency call systems in each 
unit and living area; transportation to offices, stores and community 
services; assistance with arranging outside services such as physician care, 
various therapy programs and other medical services; personal laundry 
services; housekeeping services; and social and recreational activities. 

    In addition to the basic care program, residents may be included in the 
extended care program, which assists residents who require more frequent or 
more intensive assistance or care. Prior to entering a Karrington residence, 
and periodically during their stay, individuals' needs are assessed to 
determine the level of extended care services required, and an individual 
care plan is designed. The Company's experience is that approximately 90% of 
its residents require some extended care services or require medication 
administration. 

    The Company's Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorder programs are 
provided in each prototype residence on a designated "special care" floor. 
The Company also develops Karrington Place residences designed specifically 
for Alzheimer's disease care. Trained staff provide special care programs for 
cognitively impaired residents, and each is charged additional daily fees for 
this added support. Programs include added assistance, stimulation, special 
activities, intervention and therapeutic programs that are developed and 
supported by physicians specializing in dementia care that consult with the 
Company. 

STAFFING

    Each residence has an Administrator and a four-person management team. 
This management team includes the Resident Care Director (who supervises all 
resident support staff and care plans), a Registered Nurse (responsible for 
all wellness programs, as well as medication programs), the Director of 
Administration (responsible for general administrative duties, including 
housekeeping, and all food service and dietary needs) and the Associate 
Administrator (involved in operations and marketing). Residence management 
teams report to a regional director responsible for the operation of several 
residences. Regional directors provide support, oversight and mentoring to 
each residence's staff. 

    Staffing models are used to determine appropriate personnel levels. 
Screening is used to help select staff with "care providing" characteristics. 
For each residence, services are typically provided by a staff of 
approximately 28 full-time equivalents. The largest staff component is 
"Resident Assistants," who include licensed practical nurses and other 
trained staff members who are responsible for administering services to 
residents. 

    The Company maintains competitive compensation programs, including
incentives and quarterly profit sharing,

                                       5


which it believes help attract and retain excellent employees. The Company 
believes that the combination of proper interviewing, selection methods and 
review, training and appropriate incentives significantly reduces hiring and 
retraining costs and allows for a more stable, long-term work force. All 
employees participate in a recruitment and development program called the 
Predictive Index-Registered Trademark-, a third-party program which is 
focused on determining key criteria and personal attributes which the Company 
believes are important to the proper placement of staff and management. 

TRAINING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

    The Company provides its personnel with an extensive and innovative 
training program. This training covers all aspects of Karrington's operation. 
At the end of a 90-day probationary period, each new employee is evaluated 
for permanent placement. Additionally, the Company has an extensive 
manager-in-training ("MIT") program which provides classroom and on-the-job 
training to develop future Karrington administrators and managers.  The 
Company believes investment in the MIT program is vital to its continued 
growth, quality control and consistency of service delivery. 

    The Company has structured a comprehensive quality assurance ("QA") 
program intended to maintain standards of care established for each 
residence. Under the Company's QA program, the care and services provided at 
each residence are monitored by the professional services staff which reports 
directly to the Company's senior management. The QA team works with residence 
management teams to assure that all staff members are trained, that clinical 
policies and procedures are followed, and that all state and federal 
standards are met while achieving the stringent requirements of the Company. 
The Company's QA program helps support compliance with federal and state 
regulations and requirements for licensing. Karrington has also developed a 
Quality of Service program which includes periodic surveys and follow-up with 
all current and former residents and responsible parties. 

DEVELOPMENT

    The Company's development personnel research and identify potential 
markets, primarily in major metropolitan areas and their surrounding suburban 
communities, and select sites for development within such markets. In 
evaluating a market, the Company considers a number of factors, including 
population, income and age demographics, traffic count, site visibility, 
residential and commercial characteristics, probability of obtaining zoning 
approvals, proximity of various competitors, estimated market demand and the 
potential to achieve economies of scale in a specific market by concentration 
of its development and operating activities. 

    The principal stages in the development process are (i) site selection 
and contract signing, (ii) zoning and site plan approval, (iii) architectural 
planning and design, (iv) contractor selection and (v) construction and 
licensure. Once a market has been identified, site selection and contract 
signing typically take three months. Zoning and site plan approval generally 
take three to nine months and are typically the most difficult step in the 
development process as a result of the Company's selection of sites in 
established communities which frequently require site rezoning. Architectural 
planning and design and contractor selection often occur during the zoning 
process but can prolong the start of construction. Residence construction 
generally takes 12 months. After a residence receives a certificate of 
occupancy and appropriate licenses, residents usually begin to move in 
immediately. The Company's experience indicates that new residences typically 
reach a stable level of occupancy of over 90% within 12 months, but there can 
be no assurance that these results will be achieved in new markets. The 
Company estimates that total capitalized cost to develop, construct and open 
a Karrington model residence, including land acquisition and construction 
costs, ranges from approximately $6.0 million to $7.5 million, an average 
cost per unit of approximately $110,000. The cost of any particular residence 
may vary considerably based on a variety of site-specific factors. 

    The Company's development activities are coordinated by its 16-person 
development staff, which has extensive real estate acquisition, design, 
engineering, zoning, general construction and project management experience. 
Architectural design and hands-on construction functions are usually 
contracted to experienced outside architects and contractors. 

    The Company's construction strategies include the development of national 
purchasing contracts for major building components and the retention of 
several regional contractors engaged to construct its residences. The Company 
believes these approaches will help reduce construction costs or mitigate the 
rate of cost increases due to inflation, increase product quality, and 
shorten construction periods that result from increased familiarity with the 
architectural, engineering and construction design of the Company's prototype 
residences. 

                                       6


ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS

    The Karrington model residence is a freestanding, mansion-style building 
with a designed capacity of 60 to 80 residents in any of a variety of 
exterior styles. The prototype averages 64 units and approximately 45,000 
square feet and is generally built on a 1.5 to 2 acre site. Approximately 50% 
of the building is devoted to common areas and amenities. The Company has 
five basic building plan designs, which provide it with flexibility in 
adapting the model to a particular site and local zoning requirements. The 
building is usually three stories of concrete and steel frame construction 
built to institutional health care standards but residential in appearance. 
The interior design promotes a home-like environment while permitting the 
effective provision of resident care programs and promoting resident 
independence. 

    The individual resident suites are clustered on each floor to resemble a 
neighborhood, with a variety of suite floor plans of one or two rooms and 
varying square footage. Each floor has a quiet area resembling a library or 
den and an active area designed to support activity programs and interaction 
among residents, staff and families. The main floor usually includes the main 
dining room, private dining rooms, administrative offices, a library, a 
living or family room, an ice cream parlor and a year-round sun porch. Also 
included are public restrooms, outside porches, a foyer and a formal entryway 
with grand staircase and central elevator. On other floors in each residence 
are located a resident laundry room, a wellness center, a bathing spa area, 
employee break rooms, a beauty salon and activity areas. The special care 
floor also includes a separate resident kitchen and dining area. 

    Recently, the Company opened two stand-alone Alzheimer's care residences 
in Columbus, Ohio and Albuquerque, New Mexico designed specifically for 
residents with Alzheimer's disease. The "Karrington Place" residences were 
constructed using a special design concept intended to provide the atmosphere 
and physical environment believed by the Company to be most effective in 
assisting residents in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease. The Company 
intends to develop additional Karrington Place models in many of the markets 
it enters. 

    The architectural and interior design of the Karrington prototype 
incorporates Karrington's philosophy of dedication to excellence in 
preserving and enhancing personal dignity, independence, individuality and 
quality of life. The Company believes that its residential environments 
accomplish other objectives as well, including: (i) lowering the stress and 
disruption of the resident and their family that occurs because of a move; 
(ii) providing a secure environment that is easily traveled by residents with 
a wide variety of ambulation disabilities; (iii) making available a 
comfortable home-like environment that welcomes visitation by family and 
friends; and (iv) supporting the Company's special activities programs that 
promote inter-generational activities and events to bring together elderly 
residents with younger persons in the community. 

MARKETING

    The Company's marketing approach emphasizes consumer education and 
awareness directed to potential residents and family members. The adult 
children of residents tend to be significant decision-makers in the selection 
of the assisted living option. Other significant referral sources include 
hospital discharge planners, physicians, churches, social service agencies 
focused on the elderly, nursing facilities in the area, home health agencies, 
social workers, legal advisors, other health care providers and families of 
existing residents. Telephone directory advertising, media products and 
informal "networking" are directed by the Company toward educating 
decision-makers and other referral sources in a community. The marketing 
personnel in the Company's corporate office develop the overall strategy in 
each market as well as media materials, databases, direct mail, signage and 
community outreach activities. Each residence has a marketing director 
responsible for generating and following-up leads, coordinating referral 
activities and providing tours, counseling and caregiving advice for 
potential residents and their families with respect to the Company's 
residences and services. 

    Marketing activities begin during the development stage of a residence, 
after the Company has obtained site control, and continue with increased 
emphasis when an information center opens for a specific residence 
approximately eight months prior to opening. Historically, new residences 
have achieved deposits on approximately 30% of the units in a residence prior 
to opening, and residences have generally reached stable occupancy in 
approximately 12 months. 

REGULATION

    The Company's assisted living residences are subject to regulation and 
licensing by state and local health and social service agencies and other 
regulatory authorities, which requirements vary from state to state. These 
requirements

                                       7


address, among other things: personnel education, training and records; 
facility services, including administration of medication and limited nursing 
services; physical plant specifications; furnishing of residents' units; food 
and housekeeping services; emergency evacuation plans; and residents' rights 
and responsibilities. In several states in which the Company operates or 
intends to operate, assisted living residences also require a certificate of 
need before the residences can be opened. In most states, assisted living 
residences are subject to state or local fire and building codes and food 
service licensure requirements. Like other health care residences, assisted 
living residences are subject to periodic survey or inspection by 
governmental authorities. From time to time in the ordinary course of 
business, the Company receives survey reports. The Company reviews such 
reports and takes appropriate corrective action if deficiencies are noted.  
Inspection deficiencies are resolved through a plan of correction, although 
the reviewing agency typically is authorized to take action against a 
licensed facility where deficiencies are noted in the survey process. Such 
action may include imposition of fines, imposition of a provisional or 
conditional license or suspension or revocation of a license or other 
sanctions. 

    Health care is an area of extensive and frequent regulatory change. The 
assisted living model for long-term care is relatively new, and, accordingly, 
the manner and extent to which it is regulated at the federal and state 
levels is evolving. Changes in the laws or new interpretations of existing 
laws may have a significant effect on methods and costs of doing business. 
The Company is actively involved in monitoring regulatory and legislative 
changes affecting the assisted living industry and participates with industry 
organizations to encourage improvements to existing laws and regulations. 

    The success of the Company will depend in part upon its ability to 
satisfy applicable regulations and requirements and to procure and maintain 
required licenses as the regulatory environment for assisted living evolves. 
The Company's operations could also be adversely affected by, among other 
things, future regulatory developments such as mandatory increases in the 
scope and quality of care to be offered to residents and revisions to 
licensing and certification standards. 

    The Company currently is not a Medicare or Medicaid provider. Under some 
state licensure laws, and for the convenience of its residents, some of the 
Company's assisted living residences maintain contracts with certain health 
care providers and practitioners, including pharmacies, visiting nurses, 
social service and home health organizations, through which health care 
providers make their health care products or services available to residents. 
Some of the services furnished by these contract parties may be covered by 
the Medicare programs. 

COMPETITION

    The long-term care industry is highly competitive. The Company believes 
the assisted living sector of long-term care, in which it operates, will 
become even more competitive in the future. The Company competes with 
numerous other companies providing similar long-term care alternatives such 
as home health care agencies, community-based service programs, retirement 
communities and convalescent centers, and other assisted living providers. 
The Company expects that, as the providers of assisted living services 
receive increased attention and the number of states providing reimbursement 
for assisted living rises, competition will intensify as a result of new 
market entrants. The Company also competes with skilled nursing facilities 
that provide long-term care services. In implementing its growth strategy the 
Company expects increased competition in its efforts to develop and acquire 
assisted living communities. Some of the Company's present and potential 
competitors are significantly larger and have, or may obtain, greater 
financial resources than those of the Company. 

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

    The Company is the registered owner of the service mark "Karrington 
Communities-Registered Trademark-." The Company believes this mark is of 
material importance to its business. 

EMPLOYEES

    As of March 14, 1997, the Company had approximately 430 employees. None 
of the Company's employees are represented by a union or covered by a 
collective bargaining agreement. The Company has experienced no work 
stoppages and considers its relationship with its employees to be good. 

                                       8


ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

    The following table sets forth certain information regarding Karrington 
residences as of March 20, 1997: 





Open Residences                                   Ownership         Metro Location      Commenced Operations     Units
- ---------------                                   ---------         --------------      --------------------     -----

                                                                                                     
Karrington of Bexley                                Owned            Columbus, OH           October 1992            53
Karrington on the Scioto                            Owned            Columbus, OH            March 1993             53
Karrington at Tucker Creek                          Owned            Columbus, OH           December 1993           54
Karrington of Oakwood (1)                       Jointly Owned         Dayton, OH            November 1994           53
Karrington of Shaker Heights                        Owned            Cleveland, OH          October 1995            59
Karrington Place (Alzheimer's Residence)            Owned            Columbus, OH           February 1996           26
Karrington of South Hills                           Owned           Pittsburgh, PA           August 1996            67
Karrington of Albuquerque (1)                   Jointly Owned       Albuquerque, NM         October 1996            61
St. Francis Place (Alzheimer's Residence) (1)   Jointly Owned       Albuquerque, NM         October 1996            28
Karrington at Fall Creek                            Owned          Indianapolis, IN          March 1997             61
                                                                                                 Total units       515
                                                                                                                   ---
                                                                                                                   ---

Residences                                         Planned                                                          
Under Construction                                Ownership         Metro Location      Planned Opening Date     Units
- ------------------                               -----------        --------------      --------------------     -----

Karrington of Kenwood (1)                        Jointly Own        Cincinnati, OH            2Q, 1997              67
Karrington at Willow Lake                            Own           Indianapolis, IN           3Q, 1997              61
Karrington of Englewood  (1)                     Jointly Own          Dayton, OH              3Q, 1997              48
Karrington of Colorado Springs (1)               Jointly Own      Colorado Springs, CO        3Q, 1997              64
Karrington of Fort Wayne                             Own            Fort Wayne, IN            3Q, 1997              61
Karrington of Fremont                                Own              Fremont, OH             4Q, 1997              48
Karrington of Wooster                                Own              Wooster, OH             4Q, 1997              48
Karrington of Rocky River                           Lease            Cleveland, OH            4Q, 1997              64
Karrington of Bath                                  Lease              Akron, OH              4Q, 1997              67
Karrington of Carmel                                Lease          Indianapolis, IN           4Q, 1997              58
Karrington of Gahanna (Alzheimer's Residence)       Lease            Columbus, OH             4Q, 1997              50
Karrington at the Shawhan                            Own              Tiffin, OH              4Q, 1997              55
Karrington of Findlay                                Own              Findlay, OH             4Q, 1997              48
Karrington of Piper Glen                             Own             Charlotte, NC            1Q, 1998              74
Karrington of Ann Arbor                             Lease            Ann Arbor, MI            2Q, 1998              67
Karrington of Presque Isle Bay                       Own                Erie, PA              2Q, 1998              69
                                                                                                 Total units       949
                                                                                                                   ---
                                                                                                                   ---

                                                                                                               Planned
Sites Under Contract                          Development Stage     Metro Location      Planned Opening Date     Units
- --------------------                          -----------------     --------------      --------------------     -----

Karrington of Eastover                              Zoned           Charlotte, NC             2Q, 1998            88
Karrington of Monroeville                           Zoned           Pittsburgh, PA            2Q, 1998            64
Karrington of Park Ridge                            Zoned            Chicago, IL              2Q, 1998            111
Karrington of Poland                                Zoned           Youngstown, OH            2Q, 1998            67
Karrington of Millcreek (Alzheimer's Residence)   In Zoning            Erie, PA               2Q, 1998            50
Karrington of Santa Rosa                          In Zoning         Santa Rosa, CA            3Q, 1998            80
Karrington of Novato                              In Zoning           Novato, CA              3Q, 1998            80
Karrington of Cincinnati  (1)                     In Zoning         Cincinnati, OH            3Q, 1998            67
Karrington of Parma                               In Zoning         Cleveland, OH             3Q, 1998            67
Karrington of Mt. Lookout (1)                       Zoned           Cincinnati, OH            4Q, 1998            70
Karrington of Williamsville                       In Zoning          Buffalo, NY              4Q, 1998            67
Karrington of Winston-Salem                       In Zoning        Winston-Salem, NC          4Q, 1998            67
Karrington of Upper St. Clair                     In Zoning         Pittsburgh, PA            4Q, 1998            67
Karrington of Farmington Hills                    In Zoning          Detroit, MI              4Q, 1998            67
                                                                                                 Total units   1,012
                                                                                                               -----
                                                                                                               -----

      (1) Joint venture with CHI.



                                       9



ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

    There are no pending material legal proceedings involving the Company. 


ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

    The Company did not submit any matter to a vote of its security holders
during the fourth quarter of its fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.


                                    PART  II


ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

    Information required by this Item 5 is contained on page 27 of the 
Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1996 
and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

    Information required by this Item 6 is contained on page 26 of the 
Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1996 
and is incorporated herein by reference.

    
ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
           RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

    Information required by this Item 7 is contained on pages 9 through 12 of 
the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 
1996 and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

    The financial statements and Report of Independent Auditors required by 
this Item 8 are set forth as indicated in Item 14.

ITEM 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
           FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

    Not applicable.
                                       PART III
                                           

ITEM 10.   DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

    Information required by this Item 10 is contained under the captions 
"Election of Directors", "Executive Officers" and "Section 16(a) Beneficial 
Ownership Reporting Compliance" in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement 
relating to its 1997 annual meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated 
herein by reference.

ITEM 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

    Information required by this Item 11 is contained under the captions 
"Executive Compensation" and "Election of Directors - Compensation of 
Directors" in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement relating to its 1997 
annual meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference. 
Neither the report of the Compensation Committee of the Registrant's Board of 
Directors on executive compensation nor the performance graph included in the 
Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement relating to the annual meeting of 
Shareholders shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by 

                                      10


reference.

ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

    Information required by this Item 12 is contained under the caption 
"Beneficial Ownership of Company Securities" in the Company's definitive 
Proxy Statement relating to its 1997 annual meeting of Shareholders and is 
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

    Information required by this Item 13 is contained under the caption 
"Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions" in the Company's 
definitive Proxy Statement relating to its 1997 annual meeting of 
Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.


                                       PART  IV
                                           

ITEM 14.   EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)(1)&(2) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

      See index to financial statements and financial statement schedules at 
page F-1.


   (3)     EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT NUMBER                DESCRIPTION                          REFERENCE
- --------------                -----------                         ------------
3.1               Form of Amended Articles of Incorporation 
                  of the Company                                       (1)

3.2               Form of Code of Regulations of the Company           (1)

10.1              1996 Incentive Stock Plan *                          (1)

10.2              Loan Agreement between the Company and JMAC 
                  dated December 29, 1995                              (1)

10.4              Registration Rights Agreement dated 
                  May 8, 1996, by and among the Company and 
                  the Investors (as defined therein)                   (1)

10.5              Reorganization Agreement dated May 8, 1996, 
                  by and among the Company and the Investors 
                  (as defined therein)                                 (1)

10.6              Letter of Intent Dated April 29, 1996, by 
                  and between the Company and Sisters of 
                  Charity Health Care Systems, Inc.                    (1)

13                Annual Report to Shareholders                        (2)

21                Subsidiaries of the Registrant                       (1)

23.1              Consent of Ernst & Young LLP                         (2)

23.2              Consent of  Deloitte & Touche LLP                    (2)

24.1              Power of Attorney - Richard R. Slager                (2)

24.2              Power of Attorney - Alan B. Satterwhite              (2)

24.3              Power of Attorney - Mark N. Mace                     (2)

24.4              Power of Attorney - Charles S. McCreary              (2)



                                      11



24.5              Power of Attorney - John S. Christie                 (2)

24.6              Power of Attorney - Bernadine P. Healy               (2)

24.7              Power of Attorney - David H. Hoag                    (2)

24.8              Power of Attorney - John P. McConnell                (2)

24.9              Power of Attorney - James V. Pickett                 (2)

24.10             Power of Attorney - Harold A. Poling                 (2)

24.11             Power of Attorney - Michael H. Thomas                (2)

24.12             Power of Attorney - Robert D. Walter                 (2)

27                Financial Data Schedule                              (2)

_______________

    (1)    Included as an exhibit by the same number in the Company's 
           Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-03491) and 
           incorporated herein by reference.

    (2)    Filed Herewith.

    *      Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.


(B)        REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

     The Company's current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and    
     Exchange Commission on November 12, 1996 reported under Item 5, a press 
     release dated the same date and included as an exhibit to the 8K, 
     announcing the execution of a letter of intent to acquire the business of 
     Kensington Management Group, Inc.

(C)        EXHIBITS

     Exhibits filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K are attached hereto. 
     For a list of such exhibits, see Item 14 (a) (3).

(D)        FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

     No financial statement schedules are required because the required        
     information to be set forth therein is not applicable.


                                      12




                                 SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities 
and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this 
report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly 
authorized.

                                       Karrington Health, Inc.
                             
                                       By:  /S/ RICHARD R. SLAGER  
                                           ---------------------------
                                             Richard R. Slager
                                             Chairman of the Board

                                       Date:  March 28, 1997

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, 
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the 
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.





SIGNATURE                                  TITLE                             DATE
                                                               

/S/  RICHARD R. SLAGER         Chairman of the Board, President        March 28, 1997
- ------------------------------ and Chief Executive Officer 
Richard R. Slager              (Principal Executive Officer)

/S/  ALAN B. SATTERWHITE       Chief Operating Officer, Chief          March 28, 1997
- ------------------------------ Financial Officer and Director 
Alan B. Satterwhite            (Principal Financial Officer)

/S/  MARK N. MACE              Senior Vice President, Finance          March 28, 1997
- ------------------------------ and Treasurer (Principal
Mark N. Mace                   Accounting Officer)

/S/  CHARLES H. MCCREARY       Secretary and Director                  March 28, 1997
- ------------------------------
Charles H. McCreary

/S/  JOHN S. CHRISTIE          Director                                March 28, 1997
- ------------------------------
John S. Christie

/S/ BERNADINE P. HEALY, M.D.   Director                                March 28, 1997
- ------------------------------
BERNADINE P. HEALY, M.D.

/S/ DAVID H. HOAG              Director                                March 28, 1997
- ------------------------------
David H. Hoag

/S/ JOHN H. MCCONNELL          Director                                March 28, 1997
- ------------------------------
John H. McConnell

/S/  JAMES V. PICKETT          Director                                March 28, 1997
- ------------------------------
James V. Pickett

/S/  HAROLD A. POLING          Director                                March 28, 1997
- ------------------------------
Harold A. Poling

/S/  MICHAEL H. THOMAS         Director                                March 28, 1997
- ------------------------------
Michael H. Thomas

/S/  ROBERT D. WALTER          Director                                March 28, 1997
- -------------------------------
Robert D. Walter


                                          13



                                KARRINGTON HEALTH, INC.

           INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

                              (ITEMS 14 (a)  (1) AND (2) )


1.  DESCRIPTION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS          
    ---------------------------------------------------
         
    The following are incorporated by reference in this       Page(s) in 1996
    Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended             Annual Report to
    December 31, 1996                                           Shareholders
                                                            -------------------

         Report of Independent Auditors (Ernst & Young LLP)          13
         Consolidated Balance Sheets                                 14
         Consolidated Statements of Operations                       15
         Consolidated Statements of Equity                           16
         Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                       17
         Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                 18-25
         
                                                                    Page  
                                                                  --------
    Independent Auditors' Report (Deloitte & Touche LLP)             F-2

2.  FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES                              
         
         
    No financial statement schedules are required because the required     
    information to be set forth therein is not applicable.      

                                      F-1



INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

To the Owners of
Karrington Operating Company:


We have audited the consolidated balance sheet of Karrington Operating 
Company and affiliates as of December 31, 1994 (not incorporated in this Form 
10-K), and the related consolidated statements of operations, owners' equity 
(deficiency), and cash flows for the year then ended (incorporated herein).  
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's 
management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial 
statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing 
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to 
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free 
of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, 
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and 
significant estimates made my management, as well as evaluating the overall 
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a 
reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all 
material respects, the financial position of Karrington Operating Company and 
affiliates at December 31, 1994, and the results of their operations and 
their cash flows, for the year then ended in conformity with generally 
accepted accounting principles.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Columbus, Ohio
January 24, 1995


                                      F-2





                             KARRINGTON HEALTH, INC.

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT NUMBER                  DESCRIPTION                           REFERENCE
- --------------                  -----------                           ---------
3.1             Form of Amended Articles of Incorporation 
                of the Company                                             (1)
3.2             Form of Code of Regulations of the Company                 (1)
10.1            1996 Incentive Stock Plan *                                (1)
10.2            Loan Agreement between the Company and JMAC 
                dated December 29, 1995                                    (1)
10.4            Registration Rights Agreement dated 
                May 8, 1996, by and among the Company and 
                the Investors (as defined therein)                         (1)
10.5            Reorganization Agreement dated May 8, 1996, 
                by and among the Company and the Investors 
                (as defined therein)                                       (1)
10.6            Letter of Intent Dated April 29, 1996, by 
                and between the Company and Sisters of 
                Charity Health Care Systems, Inc.                          (1)
13              Annual Report to Shareholders                              (2)
21              Subsidiaries of the Registrant                             (1)
23.1            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP                               (2)
23.2            Consent of  Deloitte & Touche LLP                          (2)
24.1            Power of Attorney - Richard R. Slager                      (2)
24.2            Power of Attorney - Alan B. Satterwhite                    (2)
24.3            Power of Attorney - Mark N. Mace                           (2)
24.4            Power of Attorney - Charles S. McCreary                    (2)
24.5            Power of Attorney - John S. Christie                       (2)
24.6            Power of Attorney - Bernadine P. Healy                     (2)
24.7            Power of Attorney - David H. Hoag                          (2)
24.8            Power of Attorney - John P. McConnell                      (2)
24.9            Power of Attorney - James V. Pickett                       (2)
24.10           Power of Attorney - Harold A. Poling                       (2)
24.11           Power of Attorney - Michael H. Thomas                      (2)
24.12           Power of Attorney - Robert D. Walter                       (2)
27              Financial Data Schedule                                    (2)

- ----------------
    (1)  Included as an exhibit by the same number in the Company's
         Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-03491) and
         incorporated herein by reference.

    (2)  Filed Herewith.

    *    Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.